Material handling devices



n 16, 1964 J. B. HUTCHINSON MATERIAL. HANDLING DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1959 INVENTOR Jesse B. Hutchinson Jun 16, 4 J. B. HUTCHINSON MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1959 n 0 S n h C T U S S 6 J J n 1964 J. B. HUTCHINSON MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1959 INVENTOR ATTOR Y N $5.0} Jaw h I United States Patent O This invention relates to material handling devices and more particularly for a flat bed structure usable for carts, pallets, or the like, and to carts, shelves and the like having the flat bed structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved flat bed structure of simple and easily fabricated design.

Another object is to provide a flat bed structure having a unitary deck and reinforcing side flanges formed of a single blank.

Still another object is to provide a flat bed structure having a rectangular flat bed structure provided with sockets for receiving posts whereby a plurality of the flat bed structures may be assembled to form a shelf structure. A further object is to provide a flat bed structure of rigid construction having a plurality of connecting apertures whereby supporting means, such as skids, casters, or wheels may be connected to the fiat bed structure at any one of a plurality of different positions whereby the flat bed structure is adaptable for use in several difierent types of carts and pallets.

A still further object is to provide a flat bed structure having a deck and integral dependent sides and ends having horizontal flanges and having a plurality of transverse reinforcing braces extending between the sides and a pair of longitudinal braces extending between the transverse braces and having flanges extending horizontal to the deck of the flat bed structure, the flanges being provided with apertures for receiving supporting means such as skids, casters or wheels. I Still another object is to provide a flat bed structure having a flat top deck, and sides and ends dependent from the deck and having apertures whereby other elements may be rigidly secured thereto to extend above or below the flat bed structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flat bed structurehaving means whereby bin forming attachments or the like may be mounted thereon. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device construction in accordance with the invention,.and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein;

FIGURE '1 is a perspective view of a hand cart constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective bottom view of the flatbed structureof the cart shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a socket of the hand cart of FIGURE 1; p

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a top deck extension attached to the top deck;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view with some portions broken away of the flatbed structure shown provided withskids and wheels;

. FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of shelving constructed of the flat bed structures embodying the invention;

; FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of a hand cart having a bin attachment mounted thereon; 1

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a handcart having another type of bin attachment mounted thereon; and,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one section of the bin attachment of FIGURE8 in collapsedcondition.

, Referring now to the drawings, the flat bed structure 10 includes 'a rectangular deck 11 having dependent sides 12 and 13 and dependent ends 14 and 15. The sides 12 Patented June 16, 1964 and 13 are provided with inturned flanges 17 and 18 which are provided with spaced apertures or bolt holes 20. The dependent ends 14 and 15 are similarly provided with. inturned flanges 22 and 23, respectively, having spaced apertures or bolt holes 24. The flanges of the ends and sides of the flat bed structure 10 are spaced below and extend parallel to the deck 11. The deck 11, the sides, ends and the flanges are preferably formed of a single blank sheet of metal which is then bent as required to form the sides, ends and flanges.

The vertical edges of adjacent ends and sides of the flat bed structure are spaced from one another. Tubular sockets 28 are disposed between such adjacent edges and extend substantially from the top surface of the flat deck 11 to the flanges of the sides and ends, the upper ends of the sockets extending up to arcuate recesses 29 of the flat deck whereby the upper ends of the sockets are flush or even with the upper surface of the top deck. The sockets 28 are preferably welded in the illustrated positions to the adjoining edges of the ends and sides to their flanges and to the under sides of the deck whereby the tubular sockets are rigidly held in position and at the same time serve as rigidifying or strengthening members for the flat bed structure.

A transverse end brace 30 extends parallel to the end 15 and has opposite end edges abutting the inner surfaces of the sides 12 and 13. The end brace 30 is provided with an angularly extending lower flange 31 disposed in the same plane as the flanges of the ends and sides whose edges 32 and 33 abut the side edges of the flanges 17 and 18. The flange 31 extends toward the flange 23 of the end 15. The end brace 30 may be rigidly secured to the top deck, the sides and the flanges of the sides in any suitable manner, as by welding. The flange 31 of the end brace 30 is provided with apertures or bolt holes 33 uniformly spaced in the same manner as the apertures 24 of the end flange 23 and in transverse alignment therewith for a purpose to be described below.

A similar transverse end brace 35 extends parallel to the end 14 and spaced therefrom and has end edges abut-' end brace 35 is secured to the top deck 11 and the sides 12 and 13 and their flanges 17 and 18, by welding or in any other suitable manner. The flange 36 is similarly provided with apertures or bolt holes 37 which are transversely aligned with the apertures of bolt holes 24 of the flange 22.

A transverse intermediate brace 40, identical in construction tothe end braces 30 and 35, is disposed parallel to and spaced from the end brace 35 and is similarly secured to the top deck sides 12 and 13 and the flanges l7 and 18. The flange 41 of the intermediate brace 40 extends toward the end brace 35 and has transversely spaced apertures 42 which are disposed in alignment with the apertures 37 of the flange 36 of the end brace 35.

A pair of longitudinal or side braces 45 and 46 are I spaced from the sides 12 and 13 and extend between the a distance as the apertures of bolt holes 24} of the flanges 17 and 18 and in longitudinal alignment therewith. The flanges of the longitudinal braces may be welded to abutting portions of the end and transverse braces.

Supporting means such as Wheel assembliessil, caster assemblies 51 or skid assemblies 52, may be secured to the flat bed structure 10 in any desired arrangement and combination due to the provision of the aligned apertures or bolt holes in the flanges of the sides, ends and braces. Each of these assemblies is secured to a rectangular fiat plate 55 having four apertures which are alignable with any four of the apertures of any of the adjacent flanges whereby the flat plates may be easily secured to the bed frame structure in any one of a plurality of different positions by bolts 56. If the apertures of the flat plates 55 are not arranged at the corners of a square, then the longitudinal and transverse braces are so spaced from the flanges of the sides and ends that the apertures in the flanges of the braces are properly spaced from the apertures in the flanges of the ends and sides to permit align ment of the apertures of the flat plates therewith. The distances between apertures of each of the various flanges however is uniform. Since the flanges are spaced from the under surface of the top deck 11, both ends of the bolts are easily accessible for attachment or detachment of the various supporting means or assemblies to or from the flat bed structure. The wheel assemblies have spaced brackets 56 extending downwardly from their plates 55 and support the wheels 57 by means of a shaft 58 which extends through aligned apertures in the brackets. The wheels of course are rotatable about transverse axes. The caster assemblies each comprise the plate 55 and a swivel plate 60 'rotatably secured thereto in the usual manner for rotation about a vertical axis. A U- shaped bracket 62 in turn is rigidly secured to the swivel plate and supports a caster wheel 63 by means of a shaft 65 which extends through aligned apertures in the arms of the bracket 62. I i

The skid assemblies 52 in a similar manner have skids 66 rigidly secured, as by welding, to the plates 55. Each of the skids '56 is formed of a single piece having a vertical section 67', a horizontal ground engaging portion 68 and an angularly upwardly extending portion 69 in the usual manner. A lug 79a may be secured to the end 14, as by welding, to provide a means engageable by a lift jack of a moving vehicle for lifting the end of the flat bed structure provided with skids when the flat bed structure is to be moved from one location to another.

It will now be apparent that any combination of Wheel,

' caster, or skid assemblies may be secured to the under side of the fiat bed frame to adjust the flat bed structure to Whatever use is contemplated. For example, instead of having two caster wheel assemblies and two wheel assemblies to form the tilt type cart illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the flat bed structure may be provided with two wheel assemblies which are connected adjacent oneor the other ends of the flat bed structure and two caster wheels may be disposed at the other end of the flat bed structure. As shown in FIGURE 5, the two wheel assemblies 50 may be secured adjacent one end of the flatbed frame and the two skid assemblies 52 may be connected to the flat bed structure'at the other end thereof. If four skid assemblies are secured at the corners of the flat bed structure a pallet is formed.

If the flatbed frame is to be used as a cart, an inverted substantially U-shaped handle member 70 may be ,detachably to one end of the flat bed structure by inserting the reduced ends thereof in the sockets 28 at one end of the flat bed structure as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The handle member 70 may have an upper horizontal portion 72 and substantially parallel vertical portions 73 which are connected to the horizontal portion by rearwardly and upwardly extending portions 75. The reduced end portions of course provide downwardly facing annular 4 shoulders which limit telescoping movement of the reduced end portions into'the sockets 28.

If the vertical portions do not have reduced end portions set screws or bolts 72 may be threaded through suitable bores of the sockets into engagement with the vertical portions to functionally hold the vertical portions in the sockets or the bolts may extend into apertures (not shown) provided in such vertical portions. If desired, the sockets 28 at the other end of the bed frame structure may be provided with posts 89 which have reduced end portions 82 providing annular shoulders 84 which limit movement of the reduced portions into the sockets. In the alternate bolts 74 may be used to secure the posts in the sockets. If desired, the posts 86 may be used to support a plurality of'the flat bed structures 16 in vertically spaced juxtaposed relation to form a shelving assembly ht) as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Each of the posts 86 will then have a reduced end portion 82 extending at one end into the upper portions of the sockets 28 of the lower bed frame structure 10 and an upper reduced end portion 82 extending into the lower portions of the sockets 28 of the next upwardly disposed flat bed structure 10.

The sides and ends of the flat bed structure are provided with elongate horizontal slots 92 whereby other members, such as the flat straps 94, may be connected to the ends or sides of each bed frame structure by means of bolts 95 which extend through the apertures provided in such members and through the slots 92. While a simple strap 94 has been illustrated in FIGURE 4, as used to brace the shelf structure there illustrated, it will be apparent that various bracing members may be secured to a flat bed structure which is used as a part of a cart or pallet.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the posts may be tubular in form and have open lower ends. Reduced extensions 10% welded in the upper ends of the posts are adapted to extend through the lower ends of the sockets 28 into the open lower ends of similar posts 30 secured in such sockets. The lower ends of the sockets may be inturned, as at 101, to limit downward movement of the posts 80 in the sockets. It will be apparent of course that the set screws 74 may also be used to secure the lower ends of the posts in such socket.

It will further be seen that bracing members for the posts filler for the handle 70 may be secured to the sides or ends of the flat bed structure by means of the apertures 92 as desired with the other ends of such members being secured in a suitable manner, as by clamps, to the posts or to the handle.

It will now be seen that a new and improved flat bed structure It) has been illustrated and described having a top deck and'transvers'ely and longitudinally extending flanges provided by the ends, sides and braces, the flanges being spaced below the top deck 11 in one plane substantially parallel to the plane of the top deck and provided with a pluraltiy of aligned and uniformly spaced apertures whereby various supporting means, such as the wheel assemblies 50, the caster assemblies 51 or the skid assemblies 52 may be secured to the flat bed structure at any desired location along such flanges and in any desired combination.

It will further be seen thata central longitudinal brace, notshown, may be disposed between the transverse end brace 30 and the intermediate brace 40 to provide further reinforcement to the top deck 11 between the side braces 45 and 46. Such central brace would of course be secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the under surface of the-top deck and to the brace 30 and the transverse brace 40. v

' It will further be seen that the flat bed structure 10 is provided with a plurality of vertically opening sockets 28 whereby handle or posts'may be easily and detachably secured to the flat bed structure. 7

It will further be seen that the sides and ends of the flat bed structure are provided with elongate slots whereby various reinforcing 'or spacing members may be se rigidifies and strengthens the deck and at the same time,

due to the provision of the flanges on such braces, provides means for connecting supporting assemblies or means at different preselected points underside of the flat bed structure.

.In some instances where long elements, such as pipes or the like, are to be supported on the flat bed structure or locations on the 10, extension frames 110 may be detachably secured to the flat bed structure. Each extension frame is of generally U-shaped configuration having a pair of side members 112 and 113 connected at their outer ends by the end member 114. The end and side members are in the form of angles having top flanges 115 and dependent flanges 116. Sockets 28 may be provided at the juncture of the side members with the end members whereby posts 80 may be secured to the extension frame to extend upwardly therefrom. Each of the side members 112 and 113 is provided with a lug 118 which depends downwardly from the top flange 115 thereof and is insertable in the socket 28 of the flat bed structure 10, the horizontal flanges 115 being, adapted to overlie side portions of the top deck. The dependent flanges 116 of the side members are provided at their free ends with brace members 120 which include downwardly extending sections 121 which incline away from the end member 114 and inwardly turned sections 123 which are adapted to be disposed below and abut the flanges 17 or 18 of the sides 12 and 13 of the flat bed structure 10.-

The distance between the extreme end of each top flange 115 and its associated inwardly turned section 123 is greater than the distance between the top surface of the deck 11 and the under surfaces of the flange 1'7 or 18 of the sides whereby the extension 110 may be tilted upwardly and held in an upwardly inclined relation to the top deck to permit the inwardly turned sections 123 and the horizontal flanges 115 of the side members of the extension to be telescoped over an end of the flat bed structure until the lugs 118 are disposed over the sockets 28 of the flat bed structure whereupon downward movement of the extension frame to its horizontal position, illustrated in FIGURE 4,.will cause the lugs 118 to enter into the sockets 28 and the sections 123 of the brace members 120 to abut the lower surfaces of the inwardly turned flanges 17 and 18 while the horizontal flanges 1150f the side members 112 and 113 overlie and contact the upper surface of the top deck at its side portions. It will thus be seen that the extension is easily attachable and detachable from the flat bed structure 10.

Pipes, conduits, tubing or other elongate members which are of greater length than the length of the top deck 11 of the flat bed structure may then be easily stored on the structure and held against undue movement thereon due to the provision of the posts 80 which limit lateral movement of such members on the extension frame 111) adjacent outer ends thereof. The end member 114 limits downward movement of the extreme end portions of such elongate members.

In FIGURE 7 is illustrated a bin attachment 130 mounted on the flat bed structure whereby the resulting cart or hand truck may be used to transport small articles. The bin attachment includes a pair of end frames 131 and 132 each of which includes a rectangular frame 134 of angle iron or the like which supports a wire screen 135. The upper and lower ends of each frame 134 is provided with upper and lower transverse members 136 which extend laterally outwardly of the frame and are secured, as by welding, to the posts 138 whereby the sides of the frame are spaced from the posts.

A rectangular side frame 140 supports a sidescreen 141. Opposite ends of the side frame are provided with sleeves or rings 143 rotatably disposed about the posts 138 between the transverse end members 136 of the end frames whereby the end frames may be pivoted about the posts 138 relative to the side frame 140. The other side of the bin attachment 131 may be comprised of two gates and 151. The gate 150 is formed of a rectangular frame 152 to which is rigidly secured as by welding, the screen 153. The frame 152 is provided with sleeves or rings 155 disposed on an adjacent post 138 between the transverse end members 136 of the adjacent end frame. The gate 151 similarly includesafrarne 157 having a screen 158 and a pair of rings or sleeves 159 rotatably disposed on the adjacent post 138 between the end members 136 of the adjacent end frame. The gate sections are thus free to pivot outwardly or inwardly about the posts 138 on which they are mounted. The gates may be held in the closed positions by latch levers 162, pivotally mounted on the frame of the gate section 150, which are receivable in the brackets 163 of the gate 151.

It will thus be apparent that the bin attachment .130 may be easily mounted on the flat bed structure 10 by merely inserting lower ends of the posts in the sockets 28 thereof and may be easily removed merely by lifting it upwardly.

It will further be seen that when the bin attachment 130 is detached from the flat bed, it may be collapsed to a flat folded position since the side frame 140 thereof and the gates 150 and 151 are pivotally mounted on the posts of the adjacent end frames 131.

V The flat bed structure 10 may be provided with a catch member 165 verticallymovable in a bracket 166 rigidly secured to one of the ends 14 or 15 of the flat bed structure-and movable downwardly into engagement with a tow chain if the cart or truck is to be pulled by a chain, not shown, of a conveyor system.

In FIGURE 8 is illustrated another bin attachment 170 for the flat bed structure 10. The bin attachment includes a pair of sides 176 which are pivotally connected to a pair of ends 177. Each of the sides 176 includes a pair of end channel members 180 teleseoped over end portions of the boards or planks 182 of each side and secured thereto in any suitabletmanner, as by bolts 183. A post 185 is rigidly secured to the web ofjeach channel member 180 by any suitable means, such as a weld 186, whereby the post 185 is held spaced from the web of the channel end member 180, a lower portion of the post e x-. tending downwardly of the channel member;

Each of the ends 177 includes a pair of end channel members 189 which telescope over the end portions ofthe boards or planks 190 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by bolts or screws 192. Each of the end members is provided with a pair of spaced sleeves 194 disposed on opposite ends of the welds 186 of the posts 185 of adjacent sides 176 whereby the ends and sides may pivot relative to one another about the posts 185. The upper sleeve 194 of each end extends upwardly of the upper end of its associated post 185 whereby a plurality of the bin sections may be assembled in vertical alignment, the protruding ends of the posts of one section telescoping into the upper ends of the upper sleeves 194 of the other sections, as is illustrated in FIGURE 8. The lowermost bin section of course has the downwardly protruding ends of its posts 185 receivable in the sockets 28 of the flat bed structure 10 so that the lowermost section is held in a rectangular vertical position on the flat bed structure by the engagement of the protruding ends of the posts 185 and the sockets 28.

It will be apparent that a plurality of the bin sections 175 may be assembled one on top of the other, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, on the flat bed structure, to form a bin for the reception of small articles.

storage.

It will now be seen-that various attachments have been provided for the flat bed structure which are mountable on the flat bed structure either by means of the sockets 28 thereof or the slots 92 whereby the flat bed structure may be converted into a bin, may be provided with handles or posts, extensions, a plurality of sections and that the flat bed structures may be assembled to form shelving. It will be apparent that such shelving may be made mobile by providing the lowermost flat bed structure with skids or wheels.

The'foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: t

1. A flat bed structure including a top deck and means extending from the top deck and providing transverse and longitudinal pairs of transverse and longitudinally extending flanges disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of the deck, said flanges being provided with a plurality of aligned apertures whereby supporting means may be detachably secured to said flanges at selectedones of a plurality of preselected positions spaced transversely along said transversely extending flanges and spaced longitudinally also said longitudinally extending flanges, at least some of the supporting means comprising a flat plate having a plurality of apertures alignabl e with said apertures in said flanges, said supporting means being mounted on said flanges by means extending through said apertures in said plates and said flanges.

2. A flat bed structure including a top deck and means extending from the top deck and providing transverse and longitudinal pairs of-transverse'and longitudinally extending flanges disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane 'of-the deck, said flanges being provided with a plurality of aligned apertures whereby supporting means may be detachably secured'to said flanges at selected'ones of a plurality of preselected positions spaced transverse 1y along said transversely extending flanges and spaced longitudinally along said longitudinally extending flanges, at least some of the supporting means comprising a flat plate having a plurality of apertures alignable with said apertures in said flanges, said selected ones of said supporting means being mounted on said flanges by means extending through said apertures in said plates and said flanges, and upwardly opening sockets rigidly secured to said flat bed structure at the corners thereof.

3. In combination: a flat bed structure having a rectangular top deck and upwardly opening sockets and an extension, said extension including, a frame having a pair of parallel side members and an endmember connected to one pair of ends of said side members, said side members having horizontal inwardly extending flanges engageable with upper side portions of the upper surface of the flat bed structure; and means spaced downwardly and outwardly of the other pair of ends of the side members for engaging the lower surfaces of said flat bed structure, said inwardly extending flanges having dependent lugs receivable in the sockets of the flat bed structure, said means for engaging the lower surfaces of said flat bed structure being spaced from said inwardly extending flanges a 'greater'distance than the upper side portions of the upper surface of the flatbed structure are spaced from the lower surfaces of said flat bed structure whereby said 7 extension is easily detachable from the flat bed structure.

4. In combination: a flat bed structure having a rectangular top deck'and upwardly opening sockets and an extension, said extension including, a frame having a pair of parallel side members and an end member connected to one pair of-ends of said side members, said side members having horizontal inwardly extending flanges engageable with upper side portions of the upper surface of the flat bed structure; and means spaced downwardly of the inwardly extending flanges of said side members and downwardly and outwardly of the other pair of ends thereof for engaging lower side surfaces of said flat bed structure, said inwardly extending flanges having dependent lugs receivable in the sockets of the flat bed structure, said means for engaging the lower surfaces of said flat bed structure being spaced from said inwardly extending flanges a greater distance than the upper side portions of the upper surface of the flat bed structure is spaced from the lower surface of said flat bed structure whereby said extension is easily detachable from the flat bed structure, said frame having upwardly opening sockets for receiv ing lower'ends of upwardly extending posts.

' References Cited in the file of thispatent 

1. A FLAT BED STRUCTURE INCLUDING A TOP DECK AND MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE TOP DECK AND PROVIDING TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL PAIRS OF TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLANGES DISPOSED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM THE PLANE OF THE DECK, SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED APERTURES WHEREBY SUPPORTING MEANS MAY BE DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID FLANGES AT SELECTED ONES OF A PLURALITY OF PRESELECTED POSITIONS SPACED TRANSVERSELY ALONG SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FLANGES AND SPACED LONGITUDINALLY ALSO SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FLANGES, AT LEAST SOME OF THE SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING A FLAT PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES ALIGNABLE WITH SAID APERTURES IN SAID FLANGES, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FLANGES BY MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES IN SAID PLATES AND SAID FLANGES. 